Railroad-crossing



w. e. STOCKHAM. I RAILROAD CROSSING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3,1920- 1,380,4 3 3. Patented June 7, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET lw. G. STOCKHAM. RAILROAD' CROSSING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, I920.

Patented June 7, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED- STATES WILLIAM G. STOCKl-IAM, OF PIQUA, OHIO.

RAILROAD-CROSSING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June '7, 1921.

Application filed July 3, 1920. Serial No. 393,850.

bodying a turn-table provided with rail sections which may be alined with either of the intersecting tracks so that the slots which are ordinarlly formed in the rails at the intersecting points of the same may be eliminated. p

A further object of the invention is to provide a railroad crossing having novel means whereby the turn-table of the same may be readily and conveniently operated with a minimum expenditure of power.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a railroad crossing having novel means whereby the turn-table is enabled to withstand the strain caused by the passage of the rolling stock over the crossing.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application aims also to provide a railroad crossing which is simple, durable and eflicient.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a plan view 0f the improved railroad crossing,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

v Fig. 3 is also-a side elevation of the improved railroad crossing, the view being taken at right angles to Fig. 2,

-Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view through the railroad crossing,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a signal embodied in the invention, and I Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the signal. In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a base which may be said to be in the form of a truncated cone and which is hollow so that a table 11 may be extended into the same. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the table 11 is preferably in the form'of a solid steel casting to provide the desired strength and weight and has its lower end terminating in a journal 13. The journal 13-thus formed at the lower portion of the table 11 is rotatably arranged within a boss 15 formed at the lower portion of the base 10 and is lubricated as the occasion requires by a lubricant supplied through a greased passage 16.

The'upstanding annular side wall 18 of the base 10 and'the outer edge portion of the table 11 are formed in their opposed sides with semi-circular annular grooves which cooperate in forming an annular raceway 20 within which ball bearings 22 or other anti-friction devices may be arranged. The ball bearings 22 arranged in the an nular raceway 20 provide a means whereby the table 11 may be rotated with a minimum expenditure .of power. As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the table 11 has its outer edge portion provided with a downwardly extending annular flange 24 which is seated within an annular rabbet25 in the adjacent portion of the base 10 so as toprovide a dust-proof connection between the table and the base and so as to prevent lateral movement of the table with relation to the base. In providing the dust-proof connection between the table and thebase at the outer. side of the same, the ball bearings 22 are reliably protected. It is obvious, of course, that the annular raceway 20 will be provided with a packing of grease within which the ball bearings 22 may operate and any suitable means may be employed for periodically supplying a lubricant to the raceway. The rotating table 11 may be mounted upon the base by connecting the table to a derrick or other lifting device through the medium of a loop 28 and gradusettling or movement of the same.

33 may be arranged between the pairs of lugs and the webs of the rails so as to securely hold the several rail sections in position.

The spaced parallel rails 12 are adapted to be alined with either pairs of rails 34 or pairs of rails 36 which are disposed at right angles to the rails 34 and would, if continued, intersect the rails 34. The pairs of spaced parallel rails 36 are insections which are disposed at opposite sides of the table so that a train may .pass along the track formed by the rails 36 and continue over the table since the rails 12 may be alined with the rail sections: 36. The rail sections 36 have their end portions mounted on upstanding brackets 28 having lugs 46 arranged on opposite sides of the rail sections and connected to the rails by means of bolts 42. Suitable spacing elements are disposed between the upstanding lugs 46 and the rails 36 so as to secure the rails against lateral movement.

The rails 34'which are arranged in pairs aremounted upon upstanding brackets 44 formed integral with the base and having pairs of lugs 46 between which. the rails are arranged. Bolts 48 are extended through the. lugs 46, the webs of the rails, and

through spacing'elements 50 which form a means for securing the rails'in position.

The table 11 may be rotated a quarter of aturn by means ofa worm 52 which is engaged with a rack 53 formed in the periphery of the table. As illustrated in 2, the worm 52 is mounted upon a shaft 54 having connection with a suitable source of power and operated within bearings 55 carried by bearing brackets 56. The latter are formed integral with the base. .The rotation of the table is, however, limited by means of a radially directed shoulder 58 carried by the table and adapted to engage the end walls of slots 60 and 61 formed in thebase adjacent the corner portions of'the same. In this manner, the rails when alined with either of the tracks may be securely held in position or against movement in'one direc tion and the worm holds the table against accidental movement in the other direction. The base 10 is preferably arranged upon a strong foundation of cement or stone so that the vibration caused by the passage of rolling stock over the table will not cause the How ever, any slight settling of the base will not f'render the table inoperative since the end portions of the tracks 34 and 36 are secured to the base and may, therefore, be accurately alined with the rail. sections 12. The'base is provided with a plurality of loops 59 by means of which thebase may be suspended from a derrick or the like when it is desired to set the same in position.

" In adjusting the table for the passage of a train over the rails 36, the worm, of course,

is rotated for imparting a quarter of a turn to the table 11 whereby the rails 12 of the same may be alined with the rail sections 36. This allows of the tree passage of the train over the table onto the rail sections 36 at the opposite side of the base. Attention is invited to the fact that ends of the rails 12 and the adjacent ends of the rail sections 36 and 34 are curvedtransversely so that the table may freely rotate and so as to provide good joints between the rail sections 12 and the rail sections 34 and 36.

A pair of signal lamps may be mounted upon the'table on the outer sides of the rail. sections 12 so that approaching engineers may be accurately advised as to the position of the said table. The signal lamps 70 are provided with white lenses 71 which show white lights in the directions of the ends of the rails 12 so as to indicate to the engineers of approaching trains that the table is properly positioned. Assuming that the table is in. theposition indicated in Fig. 1, the

white lights will be facing the rail sections 36 and a red lens 62 also carried by each signal lamp 70, will face the rail sections 34 was .to advise the engineers of trains approaching in this direction that the table is improperly positioned or not alined with the sections 34. As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, each signal lamp 70 is supported by an L- shaped standard 64 having an attaching portion.65 which is adapted to be connected with brackets or sleeves 66 secured by any suitable means to the base. The Lv-shaped formation of the standards 64 spaces the lamps 70 a considerable distance from the rail sections 12 so that trains may readily pass over the table and will not strike the lamps.

lVith reference to the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that a railroad crossing constructedin accordance with this invention may be readily positioned forallowing of the passage of a train from either direction and by reason of the fact that the ends of the rails 12 are positioned close to the ends of the rails 34 and 36, the bumping caused by the passage of rolling stock over the joints of the rails in an ordinary crossing is elminated.

I is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that such minor changes in arrangement and construction of parts may be made as will remain within the spirited? the invention and the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A rail crossing comprising a base having an upstanding annular side wall, a. table mounted upon said base, said upstanding side wall of the base and the adjacent pertion of said table being formed with a raceway, anti-friction devices arranged in said raceway, and railsections mounted upon said table.

2. A rail crossing comprising a base having an upstanding annular side wall, a table mounted upon said base, said upstanding side wall of the base and the adjacent portion of said table being formed with a raceway, anti-friction devices arranged in said raceway, rail sections mounted upon said table, and a flange carried by said table and surrounding the adjacent portion of said side wall.

3. A rail crossing comprising a base having an upstanding side wall, a table mounted upon said base and extending over said upstanding side wall, said table being provided with a centrally arranged journal rotatably connected to said base, anti-friction devices arranged between the upstanding side wall of said base and the extended portion of said table, rail sections connected to said base, and rail sections mounted upon said table.

4;. A rail crossing comprising a base, a table rotatably mounted upon said base, rail sections mounted upon said table, upstanding brackets formed integral with the base, and rails connected to said brackets.

5. A rail crossing comprising a base, a table rotatably mounted upon said base, rail sections mounted upon said table, upstanding brackets formed integral with the base, rails connected to said brackets, and an operating device for said table. a

6. A rail crossing having a base comprising an upstanding side wall, a table mounted upon said base and extending over said upstanding side wall, saidtable being provided with a journal rotatably connected to said base, anti-friction devices arranged between the upstanding side wall of said base and the extended portion of said table, rows of upstanding lugs mounted on said table, and rail sections confined between said lugs.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM G. STOCKHAM. [13.5.] 

